88 
THE TELEGRAPH. 
used were limited to making figures and numerals, and from 
these the word intended could be found by reference to a 
vocabulary. Another sign (the eleventh) gave warning when 
numbers and not words were to be expressed. He formed 
each signal from two toothed types, which being successively 
introduced into a rule, could have a forward motion given to 
them. The teeth of the types raised a lever by means of 
which the electric current was made to pass through the line 
and traverse the coils of an electro-magnet that attracted an 
armature with an attached pencil. This pencil, while slowly 
passing over a roll, marked a band with zig-zags like the 
teeth of a saw. The signals thus indicated represented 
numbers which were then translated into the terms of the 
vocabulary. 
Dr. Leonard D. Gale, professor of chemistry, who resided in 
the same house as Morse, had taught him how to construct 
the coils of electro-magnets, and had also obtained for him 
the necessary wires and a suitable battery. Morse made 
him a participator in his labours, and at a later period (1846) 
obtained for him an appointment in the Patent Office at 
Washington. 
When towards the end of August, 1837, a complete account 
of the labours of Steinheil reached America, and was trans¬ 
lated, for publication there, from the “Neue Wiirzburger 
Zeitung,” a certain other American newspaper, through the 
influence of Morse and his brother, published on the very 
next day an article in which the journal that had printed the 
translation was soundly rated. In this article it was stated 
that those who inserted such statements in the European 
newspapers appeared not to be aware that “the electric tele¬ 
graph, that wonder of our time, which is exciting the attention 
of the scientific public, is an American discovery. Professor 
Morse invented it five years ago, immediately after his return 
from France to America.” The newspaper added: “Morse 
made no secret of his invention when on board of the Sully ; 
on the contrary, he communicated it to all his fellow-passengers 
of every nationality.” 
Thus was it sought to make the American public believe 
that Schilling, Weber, Gams, Cooke and Wheatstone had 
learned from Morse^ the artist, the method of telegraphing by 
